Improving the World Language program

Mission Accomplished!

4 years ago the LLCG (Lawrence Latino Cultural Group) initiated a plan to improve differentiation in the World Language Program.After many meetings with teachers, parents, and administration our efforts finally led the way toimproving the World Language program for all students.

Tanya Alvarado (World Language Coordinator) and Nadine Ekstrom (Director of Teaching and Learning) have been especially supportive and have worked diligently to make pedagogical changes at all Brookline Schools.

With their support, the district leaders were made aware that many students are not having their needs met in the World Language Program.In our last meeting we met with Deputy Superintendent Nicole Gittens, who expressed her commitment to support improvements in the program, starting with:

Ongoing professional development forteachersin support of differentiation in World Language classes

Teachers will identify students who have advanced learning experiences with the target languageat the beginning of each school year in order to determineappropriateteaching strategies.

Welcoming collaboration with all stakeholders to createa central resource library of books, videos, games, etc.accessible toparents, teachers and students

Encouraging parents to include WL teachers in parent/teacher conferences

The Public Schools of Brookline’s mission includes meeting the needs of all learners, which includes accelerated learners in World Language classes.Already, the ACTFL (American Council for Teaching Foreign Language) has met for professional development support to improve differentiated practices for World language teachers.Current teachers who are already successful at differentiating in the classroom will be called upon to share their ideas as well.

Tanya Alvarado has completely restructured the k-5 and 6-8 curricula to move away from learning a list of vocabulary to building more on objectives to advance proficiency and less on standard word usage. See it herehttps://www.brookline.k12.ma.us/Page/2267(look at March 2018).

In addition, The Heritage and Native Speakers Team, led by Tanya Alvarado, will be continuing their work to create resources for teachers to tap into as needed.

School District News and Updates

On Thursday May 10th the School Committee will vote to approve a proposal to have the Lawrence Library named for beloved former librarian Iris Feldman, who recently passed away. Click here to read more...

Next week the School Committee will be considering Superintendent Bott’s recommendation to name current Co-Director of Special Education Casey Ngo-Miller to be the Interim Deputy Superintendent of Student Services. Click here for more...

School Committee Candidate Forum

Fri, May 4th, 8-9am, Runkle Cafeteria, 50 Druce Street.
Brookline community members are invited to attend the upcoming morning forum at Runkle School, to ask questions and hear from the six School Committee candidates (Jennifer Monopoli, David Pearlman, Barbara Scotto, Nathan Shrpritz, Sara Stoutland and Jim Swaim.)

3-Year Override Funding Plan to be Discussed March 6

Select Board Chair Neil Wishinsky has developed a 3-Year Override Funding Plan for discussion at the Select Board meeting on Tuesday evening, March 6. This includes a summary of the plan and a detailed listing of accounts/items to be funded, broken down by year and source of funding.

The Board will discuss the Override Plan on March 6 but will defer a final vote until March 13.